Wi-Fi HaLow (802.11ah) goes low-frequency for IoT devices

Connecting disparate, limited-function devices together so that they can work as such is about to get a bit easier. The Bluetooth SIG is working on its own standards, of course, but the Wi-Fi Alliance is looking to extend its own engendering protocols, too.

Enter Wi-Fi HaLow, a less resource-intensive standard that uses not only the 2.4 and 5 GHz stripes traditionally set for Wi-Fi, but also the 900MHz band. In addition to better range overall, we would also be getting better object penetration as well.

This tech’s mainly intended for use with Internet of Things devices. But hey, making those tiny batteries on our smartwatches last longer will hopefully be easier with this development.

Jules Wang is News Editor for Pocketnow and has been on the team since May of 2015. Before that, he was a production intern, editing and producing the Pocketnow Weekly podcast and also editing other video projects from the team. He is a Emerson College graduate of 2015 with studies in journalism.